Artwork
Les Sables-d'Olonne
Les Sables-d'Olonne is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Albert Marquet. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work conveys a quiet, atmospheric mood, typical of Marquet’s marine scenes, where the subject is distilled to its essential forms without dramatization.
The painting depicts the port of Les Sables-d'Olonne, a coastal town in western France, rendered in a restrained palette that emphasizes the harbor's calm waters and moored sailboats. Marquet's composition focuses on the interplay between the built environment and the maritime setting, capturing the functional structures of the port alongside the reflective surface of the water.
The work conveys a quiet, atmospheric mood, typical of Marquet’s marine scenes, where the subject is distilled to its essential forms without dramatization. The emphasis on the harbor’s layout and the boats underscores the town’s identity as a working port rather than a picturesque destination, reflecting Marquet’s interest in the everyday character of coastal life.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 48.9 cm in height by 60.3 cm in width.
The handling is characterized by fluid, broadly brushed areas that define the harbor’s water and sky with muted blues and greys, while the built forms of the port are rendered in darker, more contained touches. The composition centers on the coastal town of Les Sables-d’Olonne, with sailboats and the harbor infrastructure subtly integrated into the maritime setting. The palette remains restrained, favoring low chroma tones that evoke the overcast coastal light typical of the region.
History & Provenance
Albert Marquet executed this oil on canvas depiction of the harbor at Les Sables-d'Olonne in 1921. The work remained in private hands until it formed part of the estate of Sir James Colyer-Fergusson.
In 2005, the painting was accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax owed on Colyer-Fergusson's estate. Following this acquisition, the artwork was allocated to the Ashmolean Museum, where it is held under the accession number WA2005.192.
Les Sables-d'Olonne is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, where it is catalogued under accession number WA2005.192. The work entered the museum in 2005 through an acceptance in lieu of inheritance tax by HM Government from the estate of Sir James Colyer-Fergusson. It has been exhibited as part of the museum’s marine art and cityscape displays, though specific exhibition venues beyond the Ashmolean’s own galleries are not detailed in the source records.
Overview
Les Sables-d'Olonne, painted in 1921 by French artist Albert Marquet, is an oil on canvas depiction of the bustling harbor at Les Sables-d'Olonne, capturing the vibrant activity of sailboats in the port.
Context
This work sits within Marquet's broader exploration of marine landscapes, characteristic of his oeuvre, which often merged the expressive qualities of Fauvism with the luminous effects of Impressionism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albert Marquet (French pronunciation:; 27 March 1875 – 14 June 1947) was a French painter.
